Inside Wolf Creek actor's horror rape trial | 60 Minutes Australia

like all great TV and movie stars John Jarrett plays different characters but he has one standout role micktaylor in the horror drama Wolf Creek on screen Psychopaths don't get any more menacing or memorable but in 2017 at the height of his acting success Jarret received a surprising and unwelcome blast from the past a woman he'd known decades before someone who says he thought of as a friend claimed he was a monster in real life she said one night back in 1976 John Jarrett raped her with that allegation his career and reputation instantly disintegrated but as he waited months and months for the case to be heard in court Jarrett made an incredible decision he agreed to let 60 minutes record every moment of the fight of his life along my long walk of freedom John Jerez is on the longest walk of his life he's been called back to court the jury is in 12 unknown people are just minutes away from deciding his destiny declaring if he is innocent or guilty of rape I mean a place I don't belong this should never have happened tonight we take you inside the court case of one of Australia's favorite and most familiar sons this is no performance this is real life you only get one shot I'm just painted is this black evil thing that I'm not I trust me I'm feeling as much as you are I can show you that we're witness to the fight to keep John Jarrett out of jail what happens to Johnny mmmm look there's a possibility that he might go into custody straightaway with his lawyer Brian wrench and the legendary and colorful barrister Chris Murphy John juror is innocent and John's wife Rosa who believes her husband is the real victim here women can't just call someone out and just say he did this to me all week John has been in the dock quietly defined but also clearly laid low by an accusation he never saw coming to stand there and this guy is saying you ripped a clothes off you did this and you did that and no I didn't what am I doing here we're doing here and that story is ridiculous [Music] this is the John Jarrett we're more used to seeing on our screens in Picnic at Hanging Rock sharing the spotlight with superstar and friend Mel Gibson can't you think of any surfing six better Homes and Gardens winning Gong's for his small screen work and terrifying us as Mick Taylor in the hugely successful Wolf Creek buddy LEM I'm doing out here to get a shootout it's been a career 40 years in the making but in 2017 John was accused of rape the complaint wasn't initially made to police but instead splashed in the media how did you actually find out about this accusation a phone call from my then agent when I'd finished the call I just sat there it's just it was just dread pure dread and and then my daughter tapped me on the shoulder and said what's up Papa and didn't take long did it and I said I said really bad this is really bad I've been accused of rape and it's gonna be in the newspapers Rosie what do you remember from that conversation from that phone call it's not a phone call that you expect at all and you know the shock sets in and it's very traumatic you just know that it's going to be so public and it's such a personal thing [Music] it was 1976 and john jarrett was a 23 year old rising star with three movies already to his name it was here in Sydney's Randwick that he and wife of two years rosa shared a house with a flatmate four decades later despite an ongoing friendship the woman would accuse him of a violent rape yes they're going back 43 years yeah this was home yeah it was some as you can see it's a beautiful home but I'm looking straight at the bedroom where this alleged event happened it's like a horror mansion to me now it's just the allegation in all its detail is awful and damning she says I came into the house drunk at 3:00 a.m. I smashed the door open and woke her up by ripping the the sheet and blanket off the bed followed by ripping her underpants and her t-shirt off in one fell swoop and then lip I had this huge leather jacket which I did have apparently I was wearing it and then without undressing I got on top of this woman held up hands arms down hold her legs down and then held my hand over her mouth and somehow raped her fully clothed and then got off and she didn't make a sound and that does her she described it which is absolutely ludicrous John denies he's a rapist but admits with some shame that night in 1976 he was a cheat it seems inconceivable Rosa was asleep in a nearby bedroom and yet John had consensual sex a one-night fling with his former flatmate who can't be identified John what did happen on that night I I came home from a meeting that 10:30 11 o'clock at night everyone was in bed it was a weeknight I came out of the bathroom and she loud whispered to me John and and I went over to her door was slightly ajar T's had come in and tell us about the meeting because didn't want to wake everyone up so I came in she started saying how exciting my speed of in movies and she's found me attractive which is sort of seductive i am i week into that and and one thing led to another and i had consensual sex with the person and and you know went back to my wife and i felt guilt and remorse and i had just made a huge mistake i do have to ask you John I mean is there any way that what you viewed as consensual sex she thought was rape no absolutely not I believe that she started the seduction and my problem was how I acted on her and I was caught in the moment and I were very weak willed moment and we had consensual sex the only sex I've ever had and I'm not a brutal person were you drunk at the time no when you reflect on that night how do you how can you explain it even to yourself I mean I know you said it's a weak moment but such unusual circumstances such a strange opportunity it was really stupid I was only 23 you know it's dumb immaturity and what was our thinking and when wife was in another room so that was pretty dumb thing to do in 1984 John told Rosa about his bewilder indiscretion with their friend and former flatmate 8 years earlier he did so not under threat of a rape allegation but rather to bring honesty to their now troubled marriage when John made his confession to you what was your reaction at that points painful it's painful to hear that you know there's been an infidelity in a relationship were you shocked yes yes yeah its betrayal it is shocking to know that a friend has betrayed you it's shocking to know that your husband has betrayed you coming up the cost of betrayal were you able to figure John the most important role of these life and once the series starts is just gonna go up down all around and nobody said this is not a game as the legal roller coaster takes the whole family on a terrifying lies my god I haven't done any to you for heaven that's next on CC lips [Music] towards the waterfall yeah something that's running only just John Jarrett and his wife Rosa are happily together again two years ago they weird a second time after their first marriage 45 years ago ended in divorce john wants his first wife to be his last wife Rosa is the love of my life she's my soul mate she's she's my rock and she's my best friend so weird the whole thing it is weird it's surreal and that makes Rosa his ally as John goes into battle in the district court to fight the charge of rape which carries a maximum 14 years in jail in this case my greatest fear was an innocent man would be locked in a jail cell I just want you to tell the truth and to tell it straight also in John's corner is Chris Murphy one of Australia's most outspoken and unorthodox defence barristers that's all I require from you you are not combative you are a witness I think if someone had brought common sense to it they would have been terminated by the police on the first day so why wasn't it well they tell me that the Director of Public Prosecutions office is occupied by a number of senior barristers all hoping to become judges they don't be party to dropping a case against someone that's been me - he went through this monstrous situation is your grandfather's our rapist your father's a rapist this anonymous smear of an outstanding man's life and are able to answer it for [Music] when we first caught up with John and Rosa months out from the trial date the pain of living with being publicly accused of historical rape by a former flatmate who is legally protected by anonymity was obvious why 43 years on do you think this allegation has been made against you why now the allegation was made in the year that the meter movement was going crazy also when I received the phone call I was in Wolf Creek series 265 years old and that Papa my profession have him worked my bum off for 40 odd years I feel that this person has looked at all that and thought this guy's got a few top few bucks he's doing alright that's what I think that's my opinion that I think that she thought you know we could pick on John Jarrett because he's playing a psychopathic serial killer no worries Jarrett's slow burn career was at its heady peak in 2017 you let me help you kill hey funny bugger so the allegation couldn't have come at a more damaging time if I feel very cheated because I my career's been as ground to a halt I'm unemployable I'm trying to find out how the hell I'm gonna pay my lawyers and all the other debts that I've incurred through two years of unemployment that's where I'm at happy days yeah so that's just cost us dearly yeah have you been surprised by how low John has got over the last year and a half he's the wounded lion and at the moment really wounded gutted it's um it's scary to realize that um when someone can be taken to that to even go as far as taking your own life that is really scary that's what could happen in this scenario so it's not light entertainment for people's pleasure you know just sit has he did he didn't he you know or scandal it goes you know it's just so deep so deep and so cruel [Music] for 20 months John could do nothing but wait for his case to go to trial an interminable time to live with the stench of being a suspected rapist you get up every morning and and it's there and you can't do anything about it the I call it tum media death row you're just stuck in it and there's nothing you can do about it it's the waiting for the trial that kills you Monday July 1st day one of the most critical week of John Jarrett's life an hour before court and John meets with Brian wrench Chris Murphy's lead lawyer we've done all the preparation it's sort of like the roller coaster you know we click click click click click we're getting it to get up and once the jury starts is just gonna go up down all around you and with some terms and things like that Brian will be by John side in and out of court all week yeah like I said this is not a game it's serious we this is I feel very good about this and we've been given unprecedented access to this court process no matter the outcome the time is Carmen is this a day that you you welcome or is it when you dread Oh welcome it you know I'm very very happy that this day has come I'll just bring it on bring it on so this is a defiant John John was saying this morning uh no innocent John's yard are you saying but the opening day would prove to be a confronting one for John his accuser gave her account to the court via videolink in her testimony she claimed on a night 43 years ago John burst into her bedroom she awoke to him pulling off her bedding and ripping her underwear and t-shirt off in one goes tell us what happened at 3 o'clock on this particular morning when you're in your bed well I was welcomed to someone pulling the shades and the blanket off my head in a very quick motion then my underwear was torn off me one time she says he managed to pin her down with one arm while using his other hand to cover her mouth to stop her screaming then this person who I know for a fact was John Jarrah jumped on top of me fully clothed including the leather jacket and unzipped himself and yes perform sex on me and I'm thinking how can you just sit there and look at me and say that how can you do that you know I can give you so full of lies and say something so horrible about me my god I haven't done anything to you I haven't we both did the wrong thing the wrong thing not a criminal thing the wrong thing what do you was that so that we're all 1976 I think earlier in your evidence she said 1975 I know it's a long time ago but you have just said 1976 can you recall which year I've got the mixed up I've never been good with dates as witnessed by John and Brian much of her evidence was faltering and confused that the headlines were unforgiving have you seen some of the headlines already coming out of that no I don't wanna know this is what you're faced with you know John Jarrett I don't want to read them don't read it no no but this is the reality no I know that because I've been around a long time I know what they're gonna write then this the week's gonna get better and I'm okay because I know I'm just in this horrible place that I don't belong in you know Brian too is glad day one is over tomorrow they take on the accuser under cross-examination yeah tomorrow's a big day for us because we actually finally get the tested version we've got a lot of serious questions and serious answers look just say it relax that's all you can do like it it's just hold the course thanks right coming out my wife sitting in the room why why the accusers story I got your husband you know I was able to sleep with your husband and how Jared's legal team pulled it apart I've never seen a more undeserving week coach what do you think the motivation was behind this accusation that's next on 16 Tuesday and day two of John Jarrod's trial since being accused in 2017 of historical rape Jonas had plenty of time to think about what he describes as a one-night fling forty three years ago still as he prepares for another day in court where he will share the intimate details of that encounter he's overcome by shame right now it's very personal for you isn't it I mean you don't really want any of this hurt in court did well know who you know it's bad enough that I've got to talk about having consensual sex with somebody and describing it imagine having to talk about it and also my wife sitting in the room my wife you know who I cheated on at the time you know I've been meeting that but I didn't particularly think I'd have to admit it to the entire climate as they will do every day this week John's wife Rosa and their two daughters Zaria and ebony support John in court today they'll be more of the distressing allegations but this time the accuser will be under cross-examination she's gotta have a day in court she has to be listened to as I need to be listened to as bipartisan as you possibly can he's just taking you hear the language and and the jury makes up their mind for what they hear you know so and my truth will out this is a classic case of he said she said with no physical evidence and the alleged attack so long ago the jury can only judge one word against an others under cross-examination the versions presented by the complainant was contradictory under pressure she admitted despite the attack two long ongoing friendship with both John and Rosa including sharing breakfast with the couple the morning after she was supposedly raped by John and going on holidays with his wife John also got her a job on his film summer city so this woman was your flatmate at that time yeah yeah was anything ever said did you talk about it no nothing was said ever from that point on it was a bit awkward for the first few days and we sort of forgot about it moved on and continued to to you know a reasonable friendship not close and but she did keep seeing us on and off in court the woman claimed years later she told Rosa she'd been raped by John Rosa remembers the call but says there was no mention of rape it was only a one-night stand and nothing you know but you know what a bastard you know you know what a cheat he cheated like it was me you know so at that stage did she suggest in any way that John had raped her no it was sex it was an infidelity and she is the word one-night stand but prior to that it was he cheated on you with me did she ever tell you that John Raptor by this time Rosa already knew from John about the infidelity he told her some years prior and they had since split the marriage failing under other pressures did you have a role or son visit to a movie that mr. Jarrett was making up there in the north of Queensland no the cross-examination continued the woman was asked if she'd visited John on the set of a movie he was making in Cannes in 1986 no she was adamant she had not until the defense presented photos of her at the film's wrap party you attended that party yes confronted without evidence she admitted she had in fact initiated contact with John her alleged rapist you had no need to seek out the Society of a man you say had raped you I had to put that incident to the back of my mind for a good long time and I could tell you at that party it came to the front of my mind and that was the last time I ever saw him I wanted to in that photograph that shows everybody apparently having a jolly scene had the alleged rape come to the front of your mind yes did you leave I left at the end of the night the he-she is ten years later bringing me up and coming on a movie set I was a really strange wave to behaviour if I did anything like that disgusting rape tale that she tells she visited at a film site that he was filming on and used his name and said he's a friend of mine this is not the behavior of someone who's been raped for John's legal counsel Chris Murphy this is a turning point day two of the trial has the prosecution struggling I've never seen a more undeserving weak case and the problem when you put cases up with no evidence you get bad results [Music] adding to John and roses growing frustration some of the reporting of the trial come day three doesn't reflect what's actually going on in the courtroom failing to mention the contradictory testimony of John's accuser instead painting the worst picture of him so John little bit angers yes there were plenty of things that were said that they pulled her up off and should have been reported let's bring down the well-known person is the name of the game in media these days that's about you don't think I think it's obviously a very serious allegation and that's shaping the reporting that's a very serious allegation and they should be writing the terrible things that she says happened to her with this rape that didn't happen that's fine I understand that but I should get Bella's reporting - I'm just painted is this so far as this black evil thing [Music] it's now John charrids turn he doesn't have to but has decided to take the stand in his own defense lawyer Brian wrench understands the risk you know reruns and no cutouts there no editing it's raw this is it it's either and the other jury accepted or they don't accept it and that's the difficulty or this widget we only get one shot of this I can't act it because it's truth I'm not being an actor I'm being a person wrongly accused so if if I get a bad ending you know I've I've been hung for something I absolutely didn't do and I can't see that happening coming up make or break for John Jarrett I just kept calm I just kept remembering that hey you're innocent and the heart-stopping moment when the jury reaches of the what if the jury believes her talking about jail time plus when the truth hurts was any part of you angry more angry with him angry with him for being such an idiot that's next on 60 minutes for all his performances in his long career today will be John Jarrett's most important he's about to go on the stand to fight for his freedom against an accusation of rape 43 years ago which he maintains is a lie I just kept calm I just kept remembering that hey you're innocent you know got nothing to fear first the court heard John's denial you're a person he voluntarily you're suspect for the offense but you I know under arrest you understand that yes when he volunteered this interview to police in early 2018 it is unimaginable to me that I could ever have sex with a woman against her will but under cross-examination the heat was soon on I put it to you that in fact you did commit this rape and forced her to submit to intercourse with you by using physical force and it was by force from you that you were able to have intercourse with her John stood his ground repeating that his encounter with his accuser was a regretted one-night stand and that there was no doubt it was consensual but the accusations kept coming you know the truth is that the end of course happened without her consent the prosecutor was doing the prosecutors a job yes it was suggesting that you were lying over and over again yes said you were lying yes yeah what was that like well he asked me had I raped the woman and I said no and then he went on and talked about just false story that she's made up and I'm going no no no and after about four days I said I told you so I didn't rape the woman and what you're asking me is her fantasy and the answer to all of this is no Rosa what was it like you to be in that courtroom today it's horrendous horrendous what the prosecutor did today and you are well aware that at the time you forced yourself on her as you're listening to this indiscretion being in the detail of that being questioned and was any part of you angry very much so I just wanted to stand up oh yeah with him angry with him for being such an idiot all those years ago I've had that time though I didn't have to have that time we've had that conversation we've had we've gone into all of that in a way before this were you able to forgive John it wasn't easy I think there's layers of forgiveness it's not an easy thing to forgive straight away but you know we've been able to work through it I put it to you that you have made up a story about it being consenting sexual intercourse what if the jury believes her they don't believe you what do you face oh I don't want to think about that but we're not talking about a fine if you're convicted no talking about jail time you know that's why I'm not considering it but yeah I still freaked out at or o'clock in the morning saying what if you know but I'm human everyone thinks gotta think like that it's been an anguished two years of waiting for John and his family waiting to clear his name waiting to reclaim his life but finally Friday the 5th of July is Judgment Day all evidence has been heard and so today the jury will retire to consider it in the case against John Jairus when the Giri goes out it's the longest wait of your life you don't know whether it's gonna be five minutes five hours or five days 12:20 just before lunch and the jury goes out hey John and lawyer Brian wrench retreat to the chambers there is nothing more for them to do but wait and worry how are you feeling it's in the life at the gods you know we've put our best foot forward and it's got you know our faith in 12 members of the jury yeah Brian I think this is the edgiest I've seen you this way yeah well it's time to see if we did a good job you know it's like I said this for me is the most real of it either an innocent man goes into custody or an innocent man walks out and there's no more real outcome than that they settle in for what could be a long tense wait John's future he's very freedom now in the hands of 12 strangers just hang in there mmm leukemia ring yep but not long after Brian leaves John gets the call to head back to court okay aside from their lunch break the jury has been out for just 15 minutes this is the walk to your fate isn't it along my long walk for freedom so how long oh we've got that 15 mil that could be you mean that could be there when we get there Moses okay we better hurry up the last two years these last five days now all come down to this deep inside the Downing Center in court - John will stand in the dock as the jury foreman reads out the decision of his peers the verdict is unanimous and poignant Lee Barry not guilty John has always maintained his innocence but he's overcome by relief and elation reader to be judged so by the court [Music] it's a celebration that engulfs his family well stranger sat in a room and they looked at John Jarrett and they listened to him they watched the TV screen and listen to this woman and they didn't believe and his triumphant legal team including Chris Murphy jhanjhar not guilty no innocent damaged hurt and all those around him that loved him were hurt and all those people out there in movie land that had more him hurt he's not wolf creek he's an actor in Wolf Creek in real life he's a victim coming up he has that label basically for the rest of his life has me too gone too far the brand's all men are sexual offenders and John Jarrett's terrible didn't tell anybody I didn't consider going to the police painful I was 13 and secret that's next on 60 minutes blonde oh thanks Russ for that what an ordeal ively can redeem a life and a career as the celebration continues for John Jarrett Rosa and their family tributes pour in Bryan Brown thank God I know it's been horrible for you and the family for what a relief loss of love from many from the film industry an industry from which the me to movement was born for both victims and perpetrators John's friends as well as many strangers in the legal profession were bewildered and concerned when he was charged with rape including veteran lawyer Gregg Walsh in mr. Jarrett's case what's happened he's had an ordeal by fire and it's not going to stop and even though he's been vindicated he's been found not guilty there are many people out there in the community who say well where there's smoke there's fire you know he must have done it and he has that label basically for the rest of his life Walsh believes now more than ever there is hysteria surrounding sexual assault allegations where the discretion to determine who should and shouldn't be prosecuted is being lost I think the problem with the meter movement with the greatest of respect is that it has the potential of going too far first of all it brands all men as sexual offenders it encourages women to believe that all men are sexual offenders and is that where we're at with the meter movement is we could well be at this time if people in an ideological sense are encouraged to believe that anybody charged with sexual assault must be guilty then that's a very dangerous notion if the justice system the police department is responding to the current ideology hmm isn't that a terrible miscarriage of justice can be the potential for it is massive and there's a great risk of exponential increase in risk miscarriages of justice as awful as the experience has been for you are you sadly but simply collateral damage in a system that we have that is not perfect but the system that we must have I am collateral damage watching the cold darks the law says that I'm innocent until proven otherwise [Music] our mix mix but under the law the media was free to name an innocent John Jarrett as a man accused of rape it could not and still can't despite the verdict identify his accuser John wants the law changed where neither party is named unless someone is convicted I happen to be well known which makes it a million times worse the person who is the perpetrator of an evil lie it walks away scot-free with a suppression order that's wrong in the case of a sexual assault charges do you believe that anonymity for the accused is the answer to redressing the potential imbalance I think it's something that we really need to look at because it's gone too far an accused person today unfortunately is perceived to a great extent to a larger extent is Blaine guilty and that's wrong much of John's hurt and outrage stems from something far more personal than being forced to go through what he thinks is a flawed legal system in a startling revelation John discloses he knows what it means to be a true victim it's a really terrible thing because I am I am a part of the meto movement because I was raped when I was 13 it's a candid and raw insight into the man he is today the idea of raping somebody is the most shocking thing in the world I've been raped I don't know what it's like did you ever you know tell your parents did you not consider going to the Middle East didn't tell anybody I didn't consider going to the police at all I was in a boarding school and I wasn't the only person who was interfered with well you raped by a brother over year I was raped by a I was 13 and and the guy was 18 as a student big guy I'm at six to that the [ __ ] when I was as big as he was and in my 20s and he was in his later 20s and I had the opportunity to give it get back to him with my fists what he gave to me for raping me [Music] John is now 66 at a time of life when most of us might think of sailing off into the sunset but after nearly two years of public purgatory as he puts it it's time to start again buoyed by the lovely Rosa is very strong very strong and a determination that his life will not be ruined or remembered by what he's been through I feel overall that the feeling towards me out there is that I've been badly done by I think the majority of the public and and absolutely in my industry they some one of my greatest supporters through this my best friends in the world obviously it from that industry and they've held me up like you wouldn't believe so I don't think that my reputation has been tarnished I think it's been hammered but I don't think I'm I bet has been detrimental to my character it's just been detrimental to my life if you feel you need help or support with any of the issues raised in this story you can call Lifeline on thirteen eleven fourteen hello I'm Tara Brown thanks for watching to keep up with the latest from 60 minutes Australia make sure you subscribe to our Channel you can also download the 9 now app for full episodes and other exclusive 60 minutes content

Channel: 60 Minutes Australia

Views: 2,497,423

Rating: 4.6467371 out of 5

Keywords: 60 Minutes, 60 Minutes Australia, Liz Hayes, Charles Wooley, Tara Brown, Liam Bartlett, Allison Langdon, Ellen Fanning, Ray Martin, Jana Wendt, Jeff McMullen, Jennifer Byrne, Mike Munro, Richard Carleton, Tracey Curro, Peter Harvey, George Negus, Ian Leslie, Gerald Stone, Sarah Abo, john jarratt, wolf creek, ivan milat, mick taylor, actor, jury, investigation, crime, rape, australian actor

Id: CbOQQXdofIc

Length: 42min 36sec (2556 seconds)

Published: Sun Jul 14 2019